ballerina tip-toes and fairy houses on the trails,
blanket forts, milkshakes and movies on rainy days,
barn boots, lip-sync, and feather-bed fluffs,
early morning birthday cakes,
bedtime stories with fairytale glitter,
and (of course)
Bun-Bun!
“Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.”
My mother is the most supportive person in the world. (She’s magical!)
And the One who…
waits for me in Heaven.
(Our Virgin Mother, Mary.)
When life gets hard and you feel all alone, remember you mean the world to someone. And that someone is called Mother.
One of the reasons I love them, and count myself blessed to have them, is the constant support, guidance, and protection they have offered me throughout my life.
They have both been there to celebrate in my greatest joys!
But more importantly… to assist me in carrying my heaviest trials.
Photo courtesy of Pinterest
And in a culture that promotes “My Mom is Cooler than your mom,” or “My Mom is hotter than your mom,” I am grateful that my mother(s)’ example to me was not built on appearance or popularity but instead…
on prayer.
(Because nothing is morecool or beautiful than to see your Mother pray!)
It is the greatest example I have ever been given!
And it is the one strength I have run to the most in my own vocation of Motherhood. (For the power of a mother’s prayers cannot be easily defeated.)
No matter how old I may be it will be their voice I will hear consoling me.
So it was that several days ago I sought my Heavenly Mother’s voice as I entered into a Novena with her. Each day she has reminded me of the beautiful gift, both have given me, in their love which holds no expiration.
Perhaps you too need the voice of your mother today!
Won’t you join me in prayer to find her there?
Unfailing Novena To The Virgin Mary Untier of Knots
How this devotion started?
To show us the mission granted to the Virgin Mary by Her Son, an artist Johann Melchior Georg Schmittdner painted Mary Undoer of Knots with great grace. Since 1700, His painting has been venerated in the Church of St. Peter in Perlack, Augsburg, Germany. It was originally inspired by a meditation of Saint Irenaeus (Bishop of Lyon and martyred in 202) based on the parallel made by Saint Paul between Adam and Christ. Saint Irenaeus, in turn, made a comparison between Eve and Mary, saying:“Eve, by her disobedience, tied the knot of disgrace for the human race; whereas Mary, by her obedience, undid it”.
But what are these knots?
There are the problems and struggles we face for which we do not see any solution … knots of discord in your family, lack of understanding between parents and children, disrespect, violence, the knots of deep hurts between husband and wife, the absence of peace and joy at home. There are also the knots of anguish and despair of separated couples, the dissolution of the family, the knots of a drug addict son or daughter, sick or separated from home or God, knots of alcoholism, the practice of abortion, depression, unemployment, fear, solitude…Ah, the knots of our life! How they suffocate the soul, beat us down and betray the heart’s joy and separate us from God.
Day after day, more and more Christians kneel to pray to Her as soon as they meet the Mother of the Fair Love. Many families have become reconciled! Many diseases have been healed! Many spouses have returned to the Church! Many jobs have been given! Many conversions have taken place! Many have been on their knees praying and giving thanks for graces received from our sweet Mother. For that reason, Mary Who undoes the knots, Who was chosen by God to crush the evil with Her feet, comes to us to reveal Herself. She comes to provide jobs, good health, to reconcile families, because She wants to undo the knots of sin which dominate our lives, so that – as children of the King – we can receive the promises reserved for us from eternity. She comes with promises of victory, peace, blessings and reconciliation.
Then, free from our knots – filled with happiness, we can be a testimony of the Divine Power in this world, like pieces of God’s heart or small bottles of perfume exhaling mercy and love to our neighbor. Like ambassador of Jesus Christ and the Virgin of the fair love, we can rescue those who cry without any consolation, those who are lonely, tied with knots, who have no God, no Father nor Mother.
Mother of the Rising Sun, Immaculate, our Advocate, Helper in moments of affliction, Mother of God and made by Him our Mother, this is how Mary, Undoer of Knots is presented. Above all, She comes as the Queen of Mercy, the one who knows all about us, who has compassion for us and hurries to rescue us, praying for each one of usto Her beloved Jesus.
hugsnblessings 